Drug Testing for Welfare Checks

​Looks like state employees aren't the only ones who will have to pee in a cup before they get a check.

On Thursday, a bill that would require welfare recipients to pass a drug test before they could receive state benefits advanced in the Florida Legislature. The proposed law also requires that those seeking financial assistance must
pay for the drug tests, which can range from $10 - $70, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Solantic, an urgent care chain founded by Gov. Rick Scott only charges $35 for drug tests, which is one of the clinic's more popular services.Scott transferred ownership of Solantic to his wife, Ann, once he took office. But he still ducked questions about the potential conflict of interest.

"As you know, like I said, I have no involvement in any decisions with regard to that company," he told the Post.

Scott wouldn't reply when the reporter reminded him that his wife owned the company.

Even though this is hardly the first time that legislative measures have raised concern about Solantic, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jimmie T. Smith denied having any knowledge of Scott's potential conflict of interest.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure (HB 353) by a vote of 13-5 and an accompanying bill awaits action in the Senate.

In addition to paying for the drug test, welfare recipients would have to wait one year to reapply if they fail and would have to wait three years if they test positive a second time. The law would also require that the Department of Children and Families designate someone as a "protective payee" to receive benefits for parents who fail drug tests.

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You people are ridiculous. How Stupid and ignorant are you. The bottom line is. If WE don't change the the real corruption. No 10 bucks for a drug test. I'm talking about the back room deals spending trillions of dollars on just plain reelection campaigns, and treasonous presidents with nothing more in mind than to turn this country into something our founders would not recognize. I hope you liberal pieces of crap are the first ones to die of starvation. When the economy finally crashes for the last time. Screw you idiots.

I disagree with the conflict of interest, Gov. Rick Scott shouldn't be making money off the drug tests, but I definitely agree that everyone on welfare should get drug tested! If you can't make your own money and feed your own children, you don't need to do drugs! Any drugs, pot or crack or whatever!

Instead of debating drug use, do any of you realize the significance of the governor mandating that all states employees (is that about 200,000 people) must take a test at least every three months, while his company rakes in the money? Giving that company to his wife does not get rid of the conflict of interest. He will still make money by this mandate. Further, he "gave" the company to his wife by a "revocable trust"... that means he is still in charge of the shares and he can revoke it from her at any time. He is out to make money for himself. If he actually cared about drug abuse, he would not have scuttled the program to monitor the "pill mills." He dropped that proposal (which was in the works by law enforcement) because it would have negatively impacted the medical industry, which is where he makes his money. Debating what he says are the issues is a waste of time. Follow the money... it goes to him and that is all he cares about. Fleecing taxpayers for his own profits.

I think they should do this everywhere! I get up for work everyday... id like to make sure my money is going to people who really need it... not drug addicts and lazy ass people! Maybe when they come back positive someone will be checking on the children as well so they aren't neglected!

State employees and welfare recipients get drug tests. Does that include the governor and all the Florida congressmen, staff etc? Everyone have to pay for this test or just the poor people?Who's monitoring the results of these tests, a state employee?

Are you kidding me on designate someone as a protective payee? Really are you fricking kidding me? The kids will never get fed and there will be more child neglect in this pathetic state. Who are they kidding, children are the last ones to be taken care of in this state. This state has the largest amount of pediphiles, child abuse/neglect. This article is a joke. Who is kidding who? Glad I did't vote for Scott. The guy is a weasel. He bought his way because he couldn't get into office any other way.

Good thing this only affects people that smoke weed and not us decent people that snort zolft to get high. I guess is xanax and alcohol and the occasional hard drug that won't stay in my system is okay tho.

Well, this is... odd. While I agree with drug testing before giving people money, I don't think it's right to make people pay for the tests themselves. That's a pretty obvious attempt to line someone's pocket.

So, if children are going to be taken care of no matter what then why is it a bad thing to test drug addicts before giving them tax payer money? Maybe it does suck for those who only smoke marijuana, but it's still against the law. Think about all the people abusing the system and using it to feed their meth/crack/etc addictions.

Gotta at least notice that Scott has balls to openly having a conflict of interest and saying he doesnt. Wonder if he notices that people are paying attention to what he is doing hence that meteoric drop in public opinion?And isnt this grounds for a dismissal for this clown?

I agree. I read so many comments about how this will affect only pot smokers. Honestly I am tired of reading how pot is not considered a dangerous drug. Like crack/cocaine etc...it alters the mind. I have seen people who are high on pot drive like a drunk driver. They have killed people. It's logged under DUI. This catagory does not only exsist for driving drunk. It stands for Under the Influence of a substance. I have also seen people slice fingers off while high because they are not able to concentrate fully. All drugs do harm. As does the excess of drinking. If they were to do this, it would force those who do not make an attempt to care for the children THEY brought into this world to do so responsibly or turn them over for parents who can care for them. If the lifestyle of a drug addict is wanted...let them do it on their own dime. I was unemployed for a year due to my warehouse being closed due to economic downfall. I would gladly pee in a cup to prove I do not take advantage of our system. I teach my own child that hard working Americans pay into this system and it is disrespectful to take what you do not need. And that WE are always responsible for our own actions and how we respond to lifes curve balls. We have also been damn close to homeless. I agree with this bill. Even though I live in Nevada!

What's not fair is, really, parents who smoke an occasional joint aren't a real threat to their children. Sure, they eat more food, but it's not a true addiction. The real threat are the crack heads and meth heads that truly put their kids in danger. But it only takes 3-5 days for crack or meth to get out of your system; pot takes up to 30. So, logically, a crack/meth head can easily not smoke for four days and be fine to pass that test and continue their habit and receive benefits. But if a parent wants to take a break to chill out, they have like, one day a month to do that. But, yet, that mother that can't put the booze down long enough to safely drive her kids to soccer practice still gets away with it as well. There are TOO MANY flaws in this "plan". Esp making the people pay for the tests themselves. That's just taking more money away from the children.

If someone is dumb enough to accidentally slice of their own fingers while high, it is because they are FUCKING RETARDED! Pay attention! I could do anything high on weed that I could sober, it may be a little more difficult or require more concentration, but I wouldn't slice my own fingers off. Stop blaming weed. Stupid people just shouldn't smoke it.

So the drug dealers are to blame for selling weed to stupid people. Maybe you should have to have an IQ test done before buying from your dealer. Actually YOU should have an IQ test before getting near your computer. You're the same kind of retard with the same mentallity of the woman who killed my son while driving under the influence of marijuana. People like you are the reflection of where our society is going, hell, already here.

No actually YOU are! Why? Because if I have to pee in a cup to get a REAL job and that doesn't violate the fourth amendment and whatever else applies (or someone says applies), than welfare recipients can too! They'd HAVE to do it to get a job, drug addict or not, and then randomly get checked all while they keep said job. They'd SURELY have to after they get hurt on the job by Federal Law! (Workman's Comp won't pay 'til you do and if you come up high OR alcohol/drunk, it's OUTTA here for you! No money, no help and you're fired to boot.) So WHY is it SOOOOOO hard for someone looking for a hand OUT to pee in a cup? Anyone looking for a hand UP would do it in a NY heartbeat! Makes telling them apart stunningly easy.

Do I get to say "you're an idiot" and you're probably a stoner too, living on MY hard earned money? You feel free enough to say it, so can I.

When you start drawing a check from the American tax payer you give up that right. If you feel that your rights have been violated than do not collect your welfare check simple as that. I have to take a drug test to hold a private sector job, what gives a welfare collector more privileges than me, especially since my check is the one supporting them.

If i was in charge, you would have to work for your welfare check and public housing. Welfare collectors can clean roads, public parks, public buildings, and so on. They also should be made accountable for keeping there tax payer funded housing in clean and working order. The worst homes are "government subsidized housing". Your not working than you can certainly get off the couch for a couple hours to clean the building.

There should also be time constraints on getting off welfare. Now i do understand some people are truly disabled and have to collect a check, that is one thing. But taking your children to SSI and saying that ADD and ADHD is a disability and getting a larger welfare check is asinine.

I can drive down Seacrest Blvd in Boynton Beach which is primarily government housing, the houses are rat holes, filthy, yards un maintained. But yet there is a Range Rover, or Cadillac sitting in the drive way. How is that possible on a welfare check??

Yeah, forget all those pesky civil liberties, rights to privacy, and the gigantic conflict of interest that occurs when legislation is passed that directly benefits the finances of your retarded Governor.

With unemployment in double digits, I'd like to think they're not all crack heads, but real people with real families in real trouble of losing everything.